Filling apparatus and method



March Y17, 1953 w. MOK. MARTIN ET AL 2,631,768

FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Deo. 27, 1949 3 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 17, 1953 w. MoK. MARTIN ET AL l 2,631,768

FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 27, 1949 v 5 sheets-sheet 2.

E295- el (4/ (44, Pnonucr S'wwuyn /3/ March 17, 1953 w. MCK. MARTIN ET AL 2,631,768

` FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 27, 1949 '3 sheets-sheet s 1F15- s- 2 /z 2820 3 7 28 /4/ m 3 2, /3 E 7 l \\\\\\l\\\\\ .r ///////1m// ///7V///// I r 5 J l w ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'l

FILLING;v APPARATUS AND METHOD William McK.`Martin, San Mateo, and Alexis E., Post, San Francisco, Calif., assignors to James Dole Engineering Co., a corporation of Nevada Application December 27, 19,49, Serial No. 135,116

4. Claims. (Cil. 226-95) u This invention relates to the continuous lling of a product in containers,l and more` particularly toan improved apparatus and. method for the filling of containers which are not placed side by side .with their mouths in contacting relationship to thus enable thecontainers to be filled Without spillage as they are moved past a continuous stream of the product.

In copending application, Serial No. 104,074, iledJuly 11,: 1949I for Apparatus and Method for Filling Products in Containers, is disclosed a special type of continuous iiller which feeds a continuous stream of any suitable liquid product into containers Which are continuously conveyed in a line, which may be arcuate but is preferably straight,Y along or past. the filler at such speed as to cause each container to be substantially completely filled as it passes by the ller. The

. containers are conveyed with a substantially continuousor uninterrupted motionl so that spillage of the contents is obviated which would otherwise result if the containers were held stationary under the filler duringthe filling operation, and consequently have to be moved after each lilling operation, with the result that the entire line of con- 4'ril-ler; with their -ilanges overlapped. Although such llelf. .can ll containers positioned with .their mouths spaced. apart; this is undesirable be- :cause of. thespillaso ofthe product. Whgh would gobtain leyvirtue ofthe spacesbetween the mouths 1- of; the containers.

summarizing this. invention, it embodies the principle disclosed in the: aforementioned applica- .tion wherein the containers are conveyed in one general direction past a continuous stream of the product with a continuous substantially uninterruptedl motion. However, the iiller isdesigned to enable.. filling-, with substantially no; spillage, of containers the; mouths. of which cannot be positioned' in.,l adjacent contacting relationship; for example aglass jar container in which the mouth is or lesser diameter than the.- body of the container, as; well. as various other types of containers. having such arrangement.

The filler-of this invention is elongated and has cn-. elongated Vdischarge opening adaptedte span theme11 hs of; a vpli-1ralitr: of containers which are, Qontinuouslr moved oost the ller bvsuitable 2 l conveying means, With an uninterrupted motion and in. predetermined relationship. A rotatable valve member is provided'in the llen, and has a helical peripheral control passage which upon rotation of the valvev member supplies a. c ontinuous stream of the product through the .discharge opening,v which stream is dividedvv into a plurality of spaced apart branches. By virtue vof the helical control passage of .the valve member the stream. branchesv are caused to move continuously in the generaldirection in which. they containers are conveyed pastthe. filler. The spacing of the containers as they move. past the viller is such that each container is positioned underneath a branch of the stream, so that each container becomes completely filled in its travel past the liller.

Referring tothe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a more or less schematic longitudinal sectional elevationy of the. filler apparatus,- with parts shown broken away to illustrate more clearly the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of Fig.` 1; the iiller unitbeing omitted from the. view for purposes of clarity; f

Fig.y 3 is an endv elevation of 1 looking in the direction of arrow 3. in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse Vertical sectionk taken ina plane indicated by line ll--ll in Fig. 1;`

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the apparatus illustrating the manner of feeding the product thereto Fig. 6 :is an enlarged longitudinal. vertical sectional-view through the. filler unit, illustrating; details of construction;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation` looking inthe direction of'arrow l in Fig. 6.; 1

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section at anv end of the filler unit, illustrating means for providing a sterile sea-lw-hen the illler isV employed in the aseptic. filling of products in the manner disclosed in the.` aforementioned application;

Fig. v9V4 is; a` transverse vertical sectional view of the.v ller adapted for use underthe described aseptic. sealingv conditions. y

With particular reference. to Figs. 1, 4. and-6, the ller unit comprises a4 substantially' cylindricalv filler casing 2; which isv formedof autubular body part. 3. and a dischargeopening. plate part llA detachably connected to body 3v by cap screws 5. Plate. 4A is provided. with a straight elongated discharge opening 6 extending from adjacent one end of the. ller unit to. the other: and a drip shield Ii is secured under plate 4 face I2.

'into the interior of valve member 1.

is removably clamped against the end of cas ing 2 by clamping bar 26 and screws 21 threaded 3 by the cap screws 5. A cylindrical valve member 1 is removably mounted and journalled for rotation in casing 2, and is provided with a helical passage B in its peripheral wall; the passage 8 being for all practical purposes continuous, ex cept for relatively short Wall portions 9 spaced at relatively long intervals along the length of passage 8 to provide connecting means maintaining the valve member a structurally rigid unit. Casing 2 and valve member 1, as well as other parts of the filler unit, are formed of any suitable metal, preferably stainless steel, which can be readily cleaned and is relatively non-corrodible; and the outer surface of the wall of valve member 1 has a relatively close sealed fit in casing 2.

Means is provided for sealing the ends of casing 2 and for mounting valve member 1 for rotation in the casing. Adjacent each end, casing 2 is xedly secured to a mounting plate I I which provides supporting means for the iller unit. At one end 0f the casing, namely, the end from which valve member 1 is rotatably driven, casing 2 is formed with a tapered seating surface I2 ing surface adapted to seal against seating sur- Plug I3 is detachably clamped in the end of the casing by means of a cross bar I4 `clamped against the end of the plug by Ycap jscrews I6 threaded in the mounting plate Il adjacent such drive end of the casing.

A detachable driving connection is provided by shaft I1 which extends through apertures in the s end of sealing plug I3 and in cross bar I4, and

which is journalled in a suitable sealing and selflubricating bearing I8, preferably of graphite,

mounted in a recess in plug I3. The inner end of. shaft I1 carries a collar I9 fitting `the inside diameter of valve member 1 and which is provided wth a detachable keyed driving connection with the valve member; and the outer end of shaft I1 carries a sprocket 2I through which the shaft can be driven by a suitable chain driving connection.

At the end opposite the driving end, casing 2 f is sealed by means of a second detachably mounted sealing plug 22 seated in such end of the casing in the same manner as sealing plug I 3. However, plug 22 is closed at its outer end, and is 'provided with an inlet pipe connection 23 for feeding of the product to be filled into the ller; the inside of plug 22 being provided with a recess 24 to receive the product and allow it to flow Plug 22 in the mounting plate II adjacent the feed end of the filler.

Both ends of valve member 1 are formed with reduced diameter shoulder portions which seat bearing rings 28, each of which abuts the end of the adjacent end plug, and which are formed of the same material as bearing I8. From the preceding, it is seen that the described parts of -the filler unit are all detachably connected, so

that they can be quickly and easily taken apart for replacement or repair, and for cleaning of the filler when necessary.

Product is supplied to the ller from product supply tank 3l (Fig. 5) connected by piping 32 to inlet pipe 23 of the ller. Connected in piping 32 is a so-called constant volumetric discharge pump 33 which provides means for supplying a xed predetermined quantity or volume of the product per unit of time; this quantity being regadapted to seat a removably mounted end sealing plug I3 having a complementary tapered seatulatable at will by means of variable speed motor 34 connected to drive the pump.

In operation, it will be noted that the ller unit is stationary at a fixed zone or location. Liquid cannot ilow out of the filler unit except at the spaced points Where the helical control y passage 8 crosses the elongated discharge opening 6 which, as can be seen from Fig. 1, spans the mouths of a plurality of containers 36 which are continuously conducted past the filler with a substantially uninterrupted motion in one general direction by means to be described. The stream of the product which flows out of the filler through discharge opening 6 is divided into a plurality of equally spaced apart branches 31, determined by the position of the points of crossing of helical control passage 8 over discharge opening 6.

Valve member 1 is continuously rotated at a predetermined fixed speed; and because of the helical character of passage 8 which is preferably of a constant lead or pitch, the points of such crossing of passage 8 over discharge opening 6 will continually change with the result that the branches 31 of the stream will continuously travel in equally spaced relationship from adjacent one end of the ller to adjacent the opposite end thereof; the direction of rotation of valve member 1 being such that such stream branches will travel in the same general direction as the containers are being moved.

In this connection, each branch 31 of the stream is initially formed at each revolution of valve member I when the end of the helical control passage 8 adjacent the drive end of the ller crosses discharge opening I, and such branch will then be caused to travel the entire length of the discharge opening 6 as the valve member rotates, until it reaches a position adjacent the opposite end of the filler where the ow is shut olf. Thus, a new stream branch is formed adjacent one end of the filler for each revolution of the valve member, and the successively formed stream branches will travel the length of discharge opening 6 in the described equally spaced apart relationship.

It is immaterial whether stream branches 31 travel from the drive end of the filler to the feed end thereof, 0r vice versa, as it is only necessary that they travel from adjacent one end of the filler to adjacent the opposite end, and that containers 36 be moved in the same general direction. Although valve member 1 is preferably in the form of a hollow cylinder with helical passage B formed in the wall thereof, it can be in the form of a conventional screw `having an upstanding screw member formed on a shaft portion, in which the helical space between the screw flights forms the helical control passage. However, the construction illustrated is desirable because it provides for more eficacious feeding of the product and valving control thereof through discharge opening 6.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for continuously moving containers 36 in the same 'general direction as the direction of travel of stream branches 31, and for positioning the containers in predetermined relationship with each container underneath a branch of the Vstream to effect lling of each container in its travel past the filler. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, such mechanism comprises an endless conveyor 4I which moves the containers 36 in the direction of travel of stream .branches 31 and which cooperates with means, in the form of ia. wenn structurel 42;A

. Can. be $9.313

for positioning the-containers in predetermined' relationship ony the conveyor with each container underneath aV branch Qi the strearn'tp. effect nlling'of each container.

` best IronrFig. 2; Worm 42. i's-positioned above conveyor 4l at one-sidethereoi, and

'comprises a shaft member-f43-journalled inbearing-5,44, and having a- Wormser helix dffabout the periphery thereof.V

Worm 46 does not move the containers 36 but merely spacesithem apart, inthe. desired predeterminedvrelationship; the pitch or lead of worm 45 "bein-g substantiallyfthesame as the` pitch or lead of the helical valve control passageway-v 82ofvalve member 1., Conveyor 4|- is inca/'ed4 at a slightly faster. speed than the speedcf rotation of Worm A4.6.;'anQT.. as a result, containers. V,3.5. Wilbe-always lleld' against the worm which. will maintain the .proper spaced" relationship between vthey containers sdthat they wiijl' be filled properly; If

desiredlthe. containers may travel' on aV stationary support, and'worm t6 maybe utilized to perform the double function of'moving the containers; and vproperly positioning them. H f

Guide means is provided at the side of conveyor 4| opposite worm 46, to maintain the containers in contact with the worm. At the end of the ller Where the containers iirst meet the same, such guide means comprises a stationary belt 41 which is spring pressed against the sides of the containers by rollers 48 mounted on pivoted arms 49 and thrust toward belt 41 by resilient means 5I. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a yieldable guide at the described location because the containers upon striking the end of worm 46 at such location may be deflected laterally, and might otherwise be broken, bent or jammed Without the provision of such yielding means.

After the containers become properly positioned in the spaces between the nights of worm 45, such resilient guide means need notbe employed, and the rest of the guide comprises a stationary side bar 52. With reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that spacing worm 46 extends beyond the end of the ller which first meets the containers, so that the containers are in proper alinement and properly spaced apart by the time they are ready to be lled.

Any suitable means may be provided for driving the control valve member 1 and the worm 4t in timed relationship. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the drive is taken off a main drive shaft 55 which carries a sprocket 51. Sprocketn51 is connected by chain 58 to a sprocket 59 mounted on a countershaft 6I which is journalled in suitable bearing supports 62. Countershaft BI also carries a sprocket 63 mounted for angular adjustment, by any suitable means 64, on a collar 65 secured to countershaft 6|. A chain 61 connects sprocket 63 to a sprocket S8 secured for rotation with worm 46. Countershaft 6l has also secured thereto a third sprocket 69 which is'connected by a chain 1| to the previously mentioned sprocket 2| which is secured for rotation with valve member 1 in the manner previously related. By the described arrangement, both worm 46 and valve member 1 can be simultaneously driven; and in this connection, adjusting means 64 for. permitting angular adjustment of sprocket 63 enables an initial setting so that helical passage 3 in valve member 1 can be timed properly (i. e. have the same angular relationship) with worm 4G.

The .direction of rotation of the parts for feed- 6 ing-` the stream branches. 31:1' and' turningA worm 46 in the. proper direction with respect. to. the general direction. of movement of" containers. 35 byr conveyorllil, is shown by the direction arrows D in the drawings. Since the constantv volunmetric discharge pump 33 feeds a. constant. Vol.- ume of' theproductto bell'ed per unitof time as adjusted by Variable speed; motor 34; such quantityA canv= bev readily set relative to.y the speed of'travel ofthe containers past the filler, so. that each container can be substantially filledA in its trave-l past the iiller. At the same time, since each container is positionedv underneath one of the stream branches 31 as it moves from adjacent 'oneend of' the liiller to adjacent the other vend tot the filler, no. spillage can occur even though the containers are spaced' apart' or their mouths are such that they cannot -be positionedin side plication, i'tcan bemounted in an insulated cover 16, as shown in Fig. 9, which is positioned over a iiller housing 91 containing perforated piping 18 for maintaining a sterile atmosphere of superheated steam or any other sterile fiuid in housing 11, in accordance with the principles disclosed in said aforementioned application.

With such employment of the ller, a sterile seal for the removable end plugs I3 and 22 may be provided by forming a peripheral groove 8l in each end plug, and introducing saturated steam in such groove by means of inlet piping 82, as is illustrated in Fig. 8.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for lling a product in containers comprising an elongated iiller having an elongated discharge opening adapted to span the mouths of a plurality of such containers, means for supplying a substantially continuous stream of the product through said discharge opening divided into a plurality of spaced apart branches and moving said branches in one general direction, means for continuously conveying said containers past said filler in said direction, means for positioning said containers in predetermined relationship with each container underneath a branch of the stream to eiect filling of each container in its travel past the iiller, and means for supplying a predetermined fixed quantity of product to said filler per unit of time.

2. Apparatus for filling a product in containers comprising an elongated substantially cylindrical iiller casing having an elongated discharge opening, removably mounted sealing plugs seated in the ends of said casing, a cylindrical valve member in said casing mounted for rotation therein, said valve member having a helical substantially continuous passage in its wall interrupted by relatively short wall portions and which upon rotation of said Valve member supplies a substantially continuous stream of the product through Vsaid discharge opening divided into a plurality of spaced apart branches moving in one general direction, and means vfor rotating said valve member including a shaft extending through one of said end plugs and having a detachable driving connection with said cylindrical Valve member. 3. Apparatus for lling a product in containers comprising a tubular ller casing having an elongated discharge opening, removably mounted sealing plugs seated in the ends of the casing, a rotatable valve member in said casing having a helical passage interrupted by relatively shortr Wall portions which upon rotation of said valve member supplies a substantially continuous stream of the product through said discharge opening divided into a plurality of spaced apart branches moving in one general direction, means for rotating said valve member including a shaft extending through one of said end plugs and having a detachable driving connection inside said casing with said valve member, and a product inlet for said filler in the other of said end. plugs.

4. Y Apparatus for filling a product in containers Icomprising a tubular ller casing having an elongated discharge opening, removably mounted sealing plugs seated in the ends of the casing, a rotatable valve member in said casing having a helical passage interrupted by relatively short wall portions which upon rotation of said valve member supplies a substantially continuous stream of the product through said discharge opening divided into a plurality of spaced apart branches moving in one general direction, means` for rotating said valve member including a shaft extending through one of said endplugs and having a detachable driving connection inside said casing with said valve member, said one end plug having an interior recess, a self lubricating bearing for said shaft housed in said recess, and a product inlet for said ller in the other of said end plugs.

WILLIAM McK. MARTIN.

ALEXIS E. POST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bauer Feb. 1, 1944 

